Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Georgia Docs Finally See Medicaid Pay Raise

In the meantime, Minnesota's hospitals saw their uncompensated care costs increase at the slowest rate in five years.

Georgia Health News: Long-Delayed Doc Pay Hike Finally Arriving
The physician pay hike for Medicaid services is finally beginning to reach Georgia doctors, more than a year after it was intended to take effect. The three managed care organizations serving the majority of Medicaid beneficiaries are sending the extra payments to physicians starting this month, according to a schedule released by the Department of Community Health. The pay hike was required under the Affordable Care Act, with the goal of paying family physicians, pediatricians and internists the same for Medicaid services as they get under Medicare (Miller, 2/25).

The Star Tribune: Hospitals Provided $521 Million In Uncompensated Care
Minnesota’s largest hospital systems provided $521 million in uncompensated medical care in 2012, an increase of 2.3 percent from the previous year. It was the slowest rise in five years, according to a new report from the Minnesota Hospital Association, which has shown a steady increase in care given to patients who don’t have insurance or the means to pay, particularly during the economic downturn. With the final elements of the Affordable Care Act rolling out this year, hospitals could see levels of uncompensated care decline in coming years, as more people come through their doors with insurance coverage (Crosby, 2/25).

This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.